bronxlou

redstapler @ 06:32 pm: See my icon? That's what I *won't* be doing.
::sniff::

rockradar brought over a bike, in the hopes it would be small enough for me to ride.

It's just too big.

Curse my freakishly tiny legs!!

::shakes fists toward the sky::

Relatedly, if anyone in the New York area wants a small bike, (remember that I'm 5' tall!) let me or rockradar know.

mooncrab, posting in asperger @ 02:38 pm: Srsly
The Asperger's Answer Book is terrible.  I would have to say that, so far, it's the worst I've read.  I thought  that Asperger's and Girls was bad (and it is), but I think this one tops (bottoms?) it.  I haven't even read it all the way through, but I've read enough to know that it was a waste of $15.  For one thing, the author is incredibly negative about Asperger's (maybe it shouldn't bug me that she insists on calling is "Asperger's Disorder," but it does).  For another, she makes way too many absolute statements regardiing a young Aspie's behavior, seeming to completely and totally disregard the idea that (1) all children are different and (2) all Aspie's (who are, in fact, still children and therefore human) are different.  I'd be afraid that a parent would get this book wondering if his/her child had Asperger's, and decide, after reading the first chapter that they're clearly not because, for example, they can make eye contact - the book leads you to believe that "they" never do.

Also, her "behavior modification" techniques are flat-out appalling.  She's behind spanking as a "positive punishment" which would be enough to turn me off right there.  (I, personally, don't believe in physical punishment, period.  But I can't see how anyone could get behind the idea of hitting their child to discourage behavior that is basically an Asperger's characteristic.)  She also advocates giving or withholding snacks as a form of bevavior modification.  It seems to me like Asperger's adulthood will be difficult enough without throwing all kinds of food issues in on top of it, but there you have it.

The author apparently has a Ph.D.  I don't know how she made it through college and still has child-rearing ideas like this, let alone how she became an expert on Asperger's.  It kind of makes me shudder to think how many parents are going to read this and treat their kids like this.

So yeah.  If you're another parent of an Aspie, definitely skip this one.  And if anyone has some recommendations for good books on Asperger's, I'd love to hear them.  I have The Complete Guide to Asperger's by Tony Attwood, and I'm still trying to slog my way through it. 


edited to fix one of the links

Tags: books, mooncrab

zevinboots @ 08:44 pm: Bad service moments
I'm feeling tender and existential, reeling from a weekend of service disasters in which I cooked quinoa without putting the lid on the pot first, threw out perfectly good beets because the leaves looked wilted (hey, I'd only ever encountered canned beets), leashed brown paper packages to a lamppost and mailed the dog, and that's not even the worst of it.

It occurred to me that I might not be the only person who has ever experienced a service blunder or ten. In the spirit of learning from (and laughing at) cringe-worthy moments rather than beating ourselves up over our shortcomings, I would like to invite you to share a story of service gone horribly wrong. You don't have to be the person doing the serving or being served, and you can define service as loosely or as rigidly as you prefer. I've enabled anonymous commenting, so you can identify yourself or not, as you please.

[Edited to add: Did any of these service mishaps end up getting resolved well? Any silver linings? I'm still a sucker for a happy ending. I'm personally somewhat proud that of late I have learned to get over being mopey and non-functional in a matter of hours rather than days or weeks post-fuckup.]

untamed_fox, posting in asperger @ 12:52 pm: Ever wish...
...you could live on a planet with just other Aspies.

Just for one day.

Just one day, not feeling like a dolphin on dry land.

Just one day, not having to explain.

Just one day without blank stares.

Just one...

Tags: untamed_fox

jaspamaster @ 12:37 pm: 10 days left
( You are about to view content that may not be appropriate for minors. )

dethb0y @ 12:31 pm: The Hitchhiker (2007)
The Hitchhiker (2007)

The Hitchhiker is, in many ways, a throwback. It's got some of the elements of new horror (gruesome effects, a focus on pain and suffering), but mostly it's the same as a 1980's slasher flick.

It struck me what a highly sexualized focus it had, and how much sex there was as compared to films like Hostel or Saw. There was some nudity (but not gratuitous or excessive).

There were some excellent scenes overall in it, although nothing to awesomely impressive.

The plot has holes (and odd behavior all around) but nothing to serious. Everyone acted reasonable, although the killer was, at times, a little over the top. But they were all decent actors.

All told? I recommend it.

supertailz @ 11:24 am: Lolz

moar funny pictures

Meg and I thought we were hilarious last night, so I made a lol of us today. Substitute Meg for the flwrs and Me for black kitty. You get the picture.

Also, apparently if you only get an hour and a half of sleep one night, even if you get a good seven hours the second night, you'll still be tired. I hate everything. People are stupid and they try and talk to me and lights are bright and tea. I like tea. Don't hate tea. Also, why is there no breakfast today? I think there was and I was busy working. Sadface.

xkateinjapanx, posting in asperger @ 07:24 am: How we are perceived...what were you?
I don't know why I haven't been reading Amanda Baggs blog, especially since her videos were what initially sparked my interest in autism. But reading through her blog, I really enjoyed her End Disablism post, and I found one part especially interesting, concerning how OTHERS perceive autistic people. Reading through it pretty much gave me a flashback to my public school days hardcore, leaving me feeling both like how Hank Hill feels in my icon and amused.

So my question is, what were/are you to the rest of society? How do you think the rest of the world defines you and your behavior?



Tags: wakasplat, xkateinjapanx

analkant, posting in asperger @ 12:29 am: hi. first i have written a speech on my own lj that some of you might be interested in.
second, i wonder if anyone has any ideas as to how i might get into the sort of research michelle dawson is involved in. i have looked all over the internet for anything around nyc and have come up empty. i would love to work with her and dr. mottron, but anything similar would be wonderful. i have a psych BA.

Tags: analkant

petemosq @ 10:36 pm: Mix Update
The 2 Latest Mixes are finished.


( Here they are )

A repost of all the mixes with updated track listing will be forthcoming.

Tags: mixes, music

flaggestate @ 09:41 pm: Paging Dr. House....
It's not that bad, it's just frustrating how long it took to figure out.

Part of the joy of the whole "no kidneys" thing is itching and blemishes when my phosphorus level gets too high. Over the past few months it's gotten worse- and when i told the doctors, that's what they addressed. With no useful results.

Finally, I pestered them enough for another answer- so when they checked my hyperthyroid readings, they were so goddamn high i could have been hospitalized for a near fatal chemical imbalance.

Which would have been a nice "I told you so", but I might not have been in any position to relish it.

So, there's a change in my meds to deal with it, and thus I will:
 A: Not die, and B: Get a break from all this goddamn itching and blemishes. Gah.

:scratch, scratch, scratch, growl:

fd_midori @ 12:22 am: Something's wrong with Tigger
I just got a call from K. Something's wrong with Tigger, my 17 year old baby kitty. She's always been a cranky old lady so I worry that it'll be hard to tell when she's not well. K noticed that Tigger was drooling in her sleep and also this afternoon. She's not a drooler. And when K went to wipe her mouth she noticed an area at her lip like a skinned knee or an infection and she screamed when K tried to open her mouth. She's not as vocal as usual. She is drinking water, so that's good. K's going to see if she eats when the automatic kibble feeder goes off this evening.
We have an appointment with the vet but that's not until Thursday morning. If it seems to get worse or she's not eating we'll take her into an emergency vet. Hope it won't cost too much - as money's tight.
I'm worrying and stressing, while several thousand miles away in London. :( I'm just so glad that K's there.
Any animal experts out there there an opinion?
Do send her some good vibes.

here are photos of our three kids

Tigger on her favorite spot


Tigger and the elusive Yoshi



King David at 5 month and King David at 10 month in the same basket





King David, first week at home and already claiming the laptop and lap. Tigger is not amused.




Yoshi shares her room and her sun with King David




Tags: cats, king david, photos, tigger, yoshi

petemosq @ 07:39 pm: This was too good not to share!


This was another childhood favorite. The cartoons just make it more surreal. Before someone asks, no I can't even come close to translating it. I'd like to find an MP3 of it though. Last FM has it, but they won't let me download it for some reason.

Now back to your regularly scheduled programming.

Tags: family, italian, oddball shit, you tube

fd_midori @ 11:56 pm: Photo bits from Buenos Aires
Here are photos that didn't quite fit into my travel report a couple of weeks back.

[Door of Buenos Aires]


( Read more... )

[Architectural Features]


( Read more... )

[Butcher & Grocer]


( Read more... )

[Trail made by ants at the park. They're really amazing engineers!]



Tags: buenos aires, travel photos

lisavnyc @ 04:05 pm: Comedy, pathos and lots of naked, dangly bits!
I'm way behind on a Tribeca-SXSW-general movie log post, so recycling this CineKinkster item as a reminder/place-holder. But a great movie - highly recommend!

A stand-out at the recent Tribeca Film Festival, we've got our eyes on The Auteur, the sweet and raucous story of Arturo Domingo, the one-time leading director of art-porn cinema (Five Easy Nieces, Requiem for a Wet Dream, Full Metal Jack-Off), who finds himself at an all-time low in both career and romance.

The movie is a perfect fit for CineKink and we'll naturally be looking to include it in our next fest. But that's still a ways off - approximately 291 days as of right now, but who's counting? - and we'd love for it to find the audience it deserves in the meantime.

And you can help! Currently in the running for a slot in From Here to Awesome, a new festival that strives to cut through a lot of distribution mumbo-jumbo and make films more widely and directly available, you can take a gander at the submission trailer for The Auteur below and then make your desires known right here:



(It plays a much larger role in the actual movie, but watch for a few cameo appearances of the Clinton Street Theater, past and possibly future home to CineKink: PDX!)

lolitasir @ 12:17 pm: The Lamborghini – much more subtle
( You are about to view content that may only be appropriate for adults. )

Tags: miscellaneous

teamnoir, posting in asperger @ 08:12 am: Signing Autism
I'm taking a local class on ASL and I was wondering, does anyone else on the list sign? And if so, where do you live? What sign do you use for autism? And where did you learn that sign?

Seems to me there must be Deaf autistics and I'm kind of curious about where they hang out online.

Tags: deaf, teamnoir

4277311, posting in asperger @ 12:53 am: Oh the stupid it burns...
Today I came across a comment on Wrong Planet that stated:

I am not an expert on autism but I understand that most people who are autistic cannot do simple things like tying up their shoelaces.

I don't like what this comment implies, mainly that there is something shameful about being unable to perform a deceptively 'simple' task.
This is not the first time I've come across this comment, the general point trying to be conveyed by the statement seems to be:

"If a person cannot perform (Basic task) then they are not smart enough to (insert skill that supposedly makes you the supreme power to whom all others must bow)."

This shows a fundamental misunderstanding of autistic syndromes, to quote The Complete Guide to Aspergers:

"Asperger's is characterized by unusual PEAKS and valleys in a persons development..."

Meaning a person who might have trouble doing one thing may do excellent at another, thereby showing the opinion to be incorrect.

I CAN cook for myself and I CAN speak for myself but even if I cannot tie my shoes who cares? I will not be ashamed and FYI? That's why they made slip-ons!

Tags: 4277311

bullamakanka, posting in asperger @ 12:09 am: The Rise in Autism Cases... My 2¢ theory
Disclosure: Cross-posted to aspecialparent
I've been here before, some time ago. Some may recall. You'd recall that we have two boys, Ethan (8) and Gage (3). Ethan was diagnosed with Asperger's Syndrome a few years back.

Here's a combination update/theory on the rise of autism. Remember, a theory is just that, it is not fact, and my research is based purely on experience and observation. Feel free to add your 2¢ at the end.

Fair warning... this is a long read.

( ...Continues )

Tags: bullamakanka, disability, school, ssi

lolitasir @ 01:19 am: Sidecar
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Tags: restaurant